A relaxing getaway combining hot springs, a seaside town, and gourmet dining
Kobe is renowned as a picturesque port city, offering a blend of exotic architecture, gourmet cuisine, and lush natural beauty.
Day 1: Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Kobe Harborland, followed by a relaxing soak in the historic hot springs of Arima Onsen.
On the first day, we will stay at Arima Onsen, a famous hot spring resort in Japan.
We will get off at Shin-Kobe Station. Using the luggage storage service at the station is recommended to avoid carrying heavy luggage.
Morning
・Kobe Harborland
This area was developed as a redevelopment zone of Kobe Port and offers a wide range of activities.
With a shopping mall, restaurants, amusement facilities, and a Ferris wheel, it’s a charming spot.
It boasts a foreign atmosphere, diverse shops, and restaurants, and especially at night, the fantastic illuminations create a beautiful night view.
Nearby, Kobe Port Tower, a famous tourist spot, offers a panoramic view of the port city.
ACCESS
25 minutes from Shin-Kobe Station to Kobe Station, one transfer
Afternoon
・Arima Hot Springs
As one of Japan’s oldest hot spring resorts, Arima Onsen is easily accessible from Kobe city.
Its popularity stems from its historic hot spring town, charming accommodations, and beautiful natural surroundings, offering a quintessential Japanese onsen experience.
Since you can also enjoy exploring the onsen town itself, it’s recommended to head to your ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) early in the afternoon to soak in the hot springs and relieve your fatigue while strolling through the town.
Many Japanese people love onsen and believe in its health benefits, so some even take 3-4 baths a day.
Day 1 Recommended Gourmet
Kobe Harborland
・Ramen Kai Kobe Main Branch
“Kai” is a super popular ramen shop that has long lines every day, all for their signature chicken-based shoyu (soy sauce) ramen.
The special soup that can only be tasted here is incredibly popular, and it’s no wonder why they have so many repeat customers.
ACCESS
3 minutes walk from Kobe Station
・Chicken cuisine Kanemasa
For the best yakitori, come here!
We only use fresh chicken on the day. Enjoy the taste of a 50-year-old establishment.
We were selected as one of the top 100 restaurants on the Japanese food review site “Tabelog” in 2023.
ACCESS
4 minutes walk from Kobe Station
Arima Onsen
・Takenaka Meat Shop
Our popular croquettes are filled with generous chunks of Kobe beef, bursting with meaty flavor.
The creamy mashed potatoes are infused with the rich taste of the beef, creating a smooth texture.
Enjoy the delightful contrast between the crispy crust and the tender filling.
・Fried chicken specialty store YAPPY
Enjoy our Japanese-style fried chicken made with domestic chicken marinated in a white dashi broth.
Our crispy and juicy karaage is ready in just 3 minutes!
Choose from three flavors: “Plain White Dashi” for a taste of pure white dashi, “Curry Flavor” with a sprinkle of curry powder, and “Arima Sansho Karaage” topped with local Arima sansho pepper.
We carefully control the frying temperature and time to ensure a crispy exterior and juicy interior.
・Arima Gelateria Stagione
This gelato shop won the championship at the “Gelato World Tour Japan 2019 Yokohama” and was selected to represent Japan.
You can enjoy their melt-in-your-mouth gelato, which the chef has perfected through trial and error.
There are always 11 flavors with interesting combinations of ingredients.
Day 1 Recommended accommodation
・Arima Gyoen
Arima Gyoen is the most popular ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) in Arima Onsen, boasting both kinzen (golden hot spring) and ginzen (silver hot spring).
Certified as a “Kobe beef handling designated store,” guests can enjoy Kobe beef shabu-shabu for dinner.
The ryokan offers a variety of rooms, including special rooms with open-air ginzen baths, Japanese-Western style rooms, Japanese-style rooms, and large rooms, making it perfect for girls’ trips, family vacations, and trips with seniors.
・Arima Royal Hotel
Located in the heart of the hot spring town, our ryokan offers easy access to sightseeing spots.
You can warm your body to the core in our open-air hot spring bath with kinzen (golden hot spring) and various indoor baths with different water temperatures.
On the rooftop, you’ll find an open-air bath with a panoramic view and a microbubble bath known for its beautifying effects.
Our rooms include modern Japanese-style rooms with private open-air baths, as well as suite-style Japanese rooms with semi-open-air baths. We also have a variety of rooms that can accommodate large groups.
・Arima Onsen Arima Grand Hotel
Located on a hilltop surrounded by the Arima Sanzan mountains, our ryokan boasts stunning panoramic views of Arima Onsen town and the Tanba mountain range.
Enjoy the breathtaking scenery while soaking in both kinzen and ginzen hot springs in our top-floor open-air bath, “Unkai.”
With a variety of hot springs, you can enjoy a relaxing onsen hopping experience within the ryokan.
We also offer a wide range of facilities, including various restaurants, table tennis, an outdoor pool (seasonal), a healing area, and a simulation golf range.
For our furry friends, we have pet-friendly accommodations.
・Arima Onsen Hyoe Koyokaku
Boasting the largest hot spring facility in Arima Onsen, our ryokan offers three grand public baths: “Ichinoyu” with a beautiful lattice ceiling, “Ninoyu” with a Roman-style design, and “Sannoyu” with a traditional healing hot spring atmosphere.
Guests can enjoy the luxurious kinzen hot spring in both private open-air baths and these spacious public baths.
Our accommodations range from traditional 10-tatami Japanese-style rooms to luxurious rooms with massage chairs and private open-air baths.
For dinner, we offer a variety of options, including kaiseki course meals featuring Kobe beef and seasonal ingredients served in your room, as well as charcoal-grilled dishes and buffet-style meals.
Day 2: A contrast of nature and city!
We’ll enjoy the outdoors and indulge in delicious Chinese food at one of Japan’s top three Chinatowns.
There are two options for the second day, given the abundance of tourist spots in Kobe.
- Option A: Ascend Mount Rokko to enjoy nature, then return to the city for a food tour in Chinatown.
- Option B: Visit the world-heritage site, Himeji Castle.
Option A
Day 2 Ascend Mount Rokko to enjoy nature, then return to the city for a food tour in Chinatown.
Morning
・Mount Rokko
Rokko Mountain is easily accessible by ropeway from Arima Onsen, taking you directly to the summit.
Known as a natural resort easily accessible from Kobe city, Rokko Mountain is popular for its breathtaking views from the observatory, mountain resort facilities, and trekking courses.
Particularly popular is the panoramic view of Kobe city and Osaka Bay.
A 15-minute bus ride from the summit will take you to a ranch where you can interact with animals.
Afternoon
・Nankincyo
Nankincyo, located in Motomachi, Kobe, is one of Japan’s three major Chinatowns, along with Yokohama and Nagasaki.
Divided into four main areas, Nankinmachi is home to a variety of shops selling Chinese food, ingredients, and goods. Of course, one of the most enjoyable things to do in Nankincyo is to go on a food tour!
ACCESS
From Arima Onsen Station to Motomachi Station, it takes 35 minutes.
5 minutes walk from Motomachi Station.
Day 2 Recommended Gourmet
Mount Rokko
・Granite Cafe
A modern, relaxing cafe with stunning views, offering chef’s special creative dishes and homemade sweets.
For dinner, we have a domestic black beef course and set menus with a choice of meat, fish, or pasta for the main course.
ACCESS
Rokko Garden Terrace
・Mount Rokko Genghis Khan Palace
Enjoy a luxurious Mongolian-style barbecue featuring prime lamb and fresh seafood on Mount Rokko, famous for its delicious jingisukan.
Experience the flavors of the land and sea in our yurt-inspired restaurant.
ACCESS
Rokko Garden Terrace
・Restaurant Kobe Cheese
A cozy restaurant with high ceilings and decorative windows that let in plenty of natural light.
We recommend our cheese fondue, a traditional Alpine dish made with melted cheese and wine.
ACCESS
Mount Rokko Ranch
Nankincyo
・Rosyoki
A legendary shop in Nankinmachi, located in the heart of Kobe’s Chinatown, famous for its long lines.
This shop is known as the birthplace of the butaman (pork bun) in Japan.
Their signature dish is the juicy butaman, filled with a flavorful meat broth and wrapped in a chewy dough made with fermented koji, a traditional Japanese ingredient.
The taste has remained unchanged for over 100 years.
・YUNYUN
This popular restaurant often sees lines of up to an hour long on weekends.
Their must-try dish is the freshly steamed xiao long bao, expertly hand-wrapped by our dim sum chefs and cooked in a large iron pan.
Watch our chefs work their magic as they create these delicious dumplings.
The crispy skin gives way to a hot, flavorful soup. Enjoy them plain or with dipping sauce for a double taste sensation.
・Estoroyal Motomachi Main Branch
Our pastry shop offers freshly baked goods made daily with the finest ingredients.
Our most popular item is the classic cream puff.
The crispy, fragrant pastry shell is filled with a generous amount of vanilla custard cream.
The rich yet light cream is so abundant that it almost spills out with every bite.
Option B
Day2 Visit the world-heritage site, Himeji Castle
・Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle is renowned as one of the most beautiful castles in Japan and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is popular among visitors for its stunning appearance, historical significance, and impressive exhibits within the castle.
Especially during cherry blossom season, the contrast between the pink cherry blossoms and the white castle is breathtaking, attracting numerous tourists.
ACCESS
Take a bus from Arima Onsen to Sannomiya Bus Terminal (30 minutes).
Then, take a train from Sannomiya Station to Himeji Station (40 minutes).
From Himeji Station, take a bus from the North Exit to Otemon-mae (3 minutes), then walk for about 5 minutes.
Or, Walk from Himeji Station in about 15 minutes.
Alternatively, you can take the Shinkansen bullet train from Shin-Kobe Station directly to Himeji Station (15 minutes).
Day 2 Recommended Gourmet
・Kassuiken
The restaurant has large glass windows offering a serene view of the beautiful garden and koi pond.
Their signature dish is the anago (saltwater eel) bowl, featuring tender and slightly sweet anago.
The tempura is also a must-try, with its crispy batter and delicate seafood.
ACCESS
Inside Himeji Castle grounds
・Nanpu Himeji Main Branch
Enjoy a variety of Kansai-style street food, including the unique doro-yaki.
With a crispy exterior and a fluffy interior, doro-yaki offers a distinctive texture.
Our signature menu also includes unusual omelet-style takoyaki.
Cooked on individual hotplates at each table, you can enjoy these hot dishes for as long as you like.
The spoon-friendly format makes it easy to share with friends.
ACCESS
A short walk from Himeji Station
・Spice Suehiro
We specialize in curry rice.
Many people visit us for lunch after sightseeing at Himeji Castle.
Curry rice is a very popular dish in Japan, and we offer a wide variety of options in generous portions.
ACCESS
10 minutes walk from Himeji Station
Transportation Options and Travel Times to Major Cities
From Shin-Kobe Station to Nagoya
Shinkansen 1 hour
Shin-Kobe Station to Tokyo
Shinkansen: 2 hours 30 minutes
Himeji Station to Nagoya
Shinkansen: 1 hour 20 minutes
Himeji Station to Tokyo
Shinkansen 3 hours